EDYN CATE BELLA ROTHENBURGER – April 24, 1979 – March 7, 2018

In the early morning hours of March 7, 2018, our daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter and friend Edyn left us, anxious to join her son Mykel.

Edyn was kind, compassionate, fun-loving. She was a friend to animals and a dire enemy of garden slugs and aphids.

She loved to laugh. It came out in a low, slow rumble, like a pickup truck trying to start on a low battery.

One of the things her brothers and sisters remember most about her was her refusal to back down, whether in defense of clients of the Y women’s shelter where she worked, or of Mykel as he made his way through life. Another phrase that comes to mind is, “finding a way.”

She was adventurous, too, not hesitating to climb up a 60-ft. mast on a sailboat, jump off a high rock cliff into the ocean, or sky dive just to see what it was like.

Born in Kamloops, Edyn attended R.L. Clemitson elementary school in Barnhartvale, graduating from Kamloops secondary school in 1997. After a year in Winnipeg, she returned home to obtain certification at the University College of the Cariboo (now Thompson Rivers University) as a human services worker.

For the past 10 years she worked as staff resources coordinator at the Y women’s shelter.

Life wasn’t always kind to Edyn. She struggled at times in her earlier years, and in later years suffered from ill health.

But pure joy arrived on Oct. 4, 2000 in the form of Mykel Leslie Fritz Frank-Rothenburger. Never has there been a stronger bond between a parent and child, maybe in part because Mykel wasn’t even a year old when it became just the two of them at home.

They often reassured each other that it was “Mum and Bub” against the world.

But let’s back up a bit. As a little kid, ‘Boo’ (a nickname that stuck with her throughout life) fell head over heels in love with an older man — her grandfather, Les Alaric — during frequent visits to Les and Kay’s home in Oliver, sometimes spending part of summer vacation with them. Les died when she was five, but she stayed in touch by going outside and talking to him as she gazed up at the stars.

During her school years, Edyn played soccer and took part in the Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts. At 16, she fell in love again. This time it was with Bradley, a six-year-old Quarter Horse-Tennessee Walker cross with attitude. Edyn and Bradley drifted apart over the years, but they were happily re-united this past Christmas.

In recent years, Edyn loved more sedate past-times such as camping trips with extended family, sailing, crafting, reading, celebrating Christmas, gardening (that’s where the slugs and aphids come in), painting, watching The Walking Dead with Mykel, eating “Raspberry 4 Lucie” crêpes at Cora restaurant, searching for sand dollars, and taking a 10-lb. package of canine dynamite named Willy for walks.

Not to mention Monday night TV dance shows and a 24-hour online auction where she recently sold a pair of worse-for-wear running shoes for more than the asking price.

Most of all, though, she loved family. Loved being with them and loved seeing them together. She and Mykel loved family camping trips and vacations on Jon and Rene’s sailboat. She and her ‘Daddio’ Mel volunteered together during last summer’s wildfires, caring for evacuated horses.

Her relationship with her brothers and sisters operated under strict laws of nature: every storm will pass; love and forgiveness must always prevail.

And she was a good aunt.

Edyn served on the board of the Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society and as a server at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she was baptized last November.

After Mykel took his own life March 31, 2017, at just 16, we tried very, very hard to hold onto her, but he was waiting for her to come home.

“Mumpus loves, loves, LOVES her Bumpus!”

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Mel Rothenburger is the former Editor of The Daily News in Kamloops, B.C. (retiring in 2012), and past mayor of Kamloops (1999-2005). At ArmchairMayor.ca he is the publisher, editor, news editor, city editor, reporter, webmaster, and just about anything else you can think of. He is grateful for the contributions of several local columnists.
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Hi Mel. So very sorry to hear of your daughter’s passing. I did not have the privilege of meeting/knowing her, but she sounds remarkable in every way. David (the psalmist) wrote about through the valley of the shadow of death. It is never an easy road. Praying that you will find comfort and peace through these difficult days.

Mel;
I’m so sorry to read this about your daughter, Edyn, and grandson, Mykel. Reading through moist eyes of the loving memories you and your family have to share is a great gift from you to us. Thank you so much for writing to us during your heartbreak. Please, keep on writing…

Our deepest condolences to you and your family Mel. Thank you for sharing your beautiful tribute for the enduring love for your daughter Edyn and grandson Mykel. Holding you in our thoughts and prayers to allow the memories to come to you and give you comfort now and for always.

Mel, we have a few memories of Edyn from Barnhartvale on Pringle
Road. I recall seeing her as a young preschooler, her Mom in tow, barreling up the street,
with such purpose and full of energy! Thank you for your awesome tribute to her.
Wishing you and your family peace. Heartfelt sympathy. Ann and George Davis

Edyn was able to touch the lives of women and children in special ways. Those of us who knew Edyn knew Mykel without even meeting him. They were a loving unit and the separation of that unit was not meant to be. Condolences to all family, friends and colleagues.

Our hearts are breaking for each and every soul whose lives were touched by this beautiful woman who loved profoundly. We pray she’s found rest and reunion with Mykel – their love for each other will work a miracle or two and they will continue to touch our hearts as we remember those smiles.
Sending each of you family and dearly cherished friends our deepest condolences. Holding you all in our hearts.

Mel,
I feel your pain and I believe you understand how important it was for Edyn to join her son Mykel. While this can not dismiss the tremendous pain you must feel from the loss of a young daughter, you know you must carry on and do what you do, your presence in this world is so very important to me and thousands of others.
Yes Mel, Edyn and Mykel have left but they are not gone. You can see them in your mind’s eye every day and you can hear them when you listen. I pray you will find peace with yourself and accept that your daughter and grandson are now rejoicing together in God’s paradise and they will be there to welcome you home someday.

Dear Mel … it was very sad and meaningful to read this beautiful tribute to your daughter and her love for her son, your grandson. Please accept my deepest heartfelt condolences and share them with Jacob, Syd and all of your family. I have no doubt Edyn and Mykel are together again — the photo says it all! I normally struggle and self-edit too much when I write, but remember that the words I wrote for my son flowed smoothly and easily. I’m sure yours did, too. When they come from the heart, the heart knows exactly what to say. With love to all of you.

Mel, one can’t express in words the acute pain a father may feel writing obituary, first for his grandson and not long after, for his beloved own daughter, Please know that I hold you, Edyn’s mom and your whole family in my thoughts and close to my heart. Your expression and tone of your words brought me comfort…with the hope it will to many who have carried Edyn on the wings of their daily prayers and meditation.

Saddened to read this. ….. I worked with Edyn at the women’s shelter for a few years and saw her work her magic with the women and children who accessed in house services. She was full of compassion and when she spoke of Mykel, you could just see the joy and pride she had being his mom. I can’t imagine the anguish she went through and now the loss you are all going through.
May the memories you have of both Edyn and Mykel bring you comfort and strength during this difficult time.
Will keep you in our prayers!

Mel, so sorry for your loss, of both your daughter and grandson. I met you and Eden looking after evacuated horses this summer…words cannot express our thoughts. What an eloquent tribute to an exceptional woman.

Sending my love and thoughts to her family and friends. I feel fortunate to have grown up with Edyn and will remember her smiling like in this beautiful picture. She has sent me very thoughtful messages over the past few months as my family also dealt with loss; has been a beautiful testament of her compassion for others. She demonstrated such empathy while going through her own grief.

Mel – I am so sorry for your loss. This is a beautiful tribute to your daughter and my heart goes out to you and your family. I know I always enjoy giving you a great big hug when I see you, so an even bigger hug will be en route. Again – so sorry for this tremendous loss of Edyn. We are praying for all of you.

Mel, thank you for your beautiful words about your well loved and talented daughter. She sounds like a “ lover of life” and a strong woman indeed ,who shared her strength and kindness with women in need. Losing her son at a young age to suicide is a soul wrenching assault from which few Moms could carry on. May your family receive some solace in the midst of this tragedy, knowing that they are united. May God comfort you with his presence in your time of great loss and grief. Sincere condolences, Janis and Mark Ottem

I’m very sorry for your loss. That’s a lot of heartache for one family. Thanks for writing this and sharing joyful memories with those of us who never met her. Sounds like a lot of good stuff to hold on to and a life worth celebrating.